KR101633821B1 - Adjustable dynamic filter - Google Patents

Abstract

The grid employs dynamic and tunable grid lines that communicate with objects to transmit and / or receive objects. The grid lines may be, but are not limited to, liners in the form of crosshatched or pinwheels. The grid may be switched between opaque and translucent, and the grid lines may target the object to be transmitted or received, calibrate to this object, and track this object. The grid may be employed, for example, as a privacy screen or filter on a computer screen. The grid lines have an angle to match the angle of the user's position with respect to the grid.

Description

[0001] ADJUSTABLE DYNAMIC FILTER [0002]

The present invention relates to adjustable filters, particularly dynamically adjustable filters and privacy systems.

In hospital settings, radiographic examinations are performed on patients who are unable to move or who are difficult to move. At the tertiary care center, a moving radiography test shows that a significant percentage of radiographic examinations are performed. X-rays that pass through objects such as the human body experience some degree of scattering. The primary x-rays transmitted through the object travel from an x-ray source (hereinafter also referred to as an x-ray focus spot) to an image receptor and deliver the object density information. The scattered x-rays form a diffuse image that deteriorates the primary x-ray image contrast. In some patients, the scattered x-ray intensity is greater than the intensity of the primary x-ray. Scattering phenomena are known and are typically compensated for by conventional radiography, fluoroscopy, and mammography by the use of an anti-scatter grid.

The non-scattering grid is generally formed by alternating strips of x-ray opaque (or radiopaque) material and x-ray transmissive (or radiopaque) material. Lead may be used as the x-ray opaque material, and plastic, aluminum, or fiber may be used as the x-ray transparent material. The grid is positioned between the object of interest and the x-ray imager plate, and the primary x-rays forming the image are oriented such that they are incident only on the edge of the x-ray opaque material. Thus, most of the primary x-rays pass through a radiolucent spacer strip. Conversely, the scattered x-rays are emitted in all directions after interaction with the target object, so that compared to the primary x-rays, the scattered x-rays are incident on a wider region of the lead strip and a small percentage Only the scattered x-rays are transmitted by the grid.

The degree of scattering control for a given grid depends on the grid ratio defined as the ratio of the radiopaque strip in the direction of the x-ray path to the width of the radiopaque spacer material when measured perpendicular to the x-ray beam path. Therefore, the higher the grid ratio, the greater the scattering control. Higher grid ratios are more effective, but also more difficult to align with respect to the focal spot. To compensate for the x-ray beam divergence in the focused grid, the radiopaque strip is tilted to a greater extent as the distance from the center of the grid increases. The faces of the grid vanes are all concentrated along a line known as the focal line. The distance from the focal line to the surface of the grid is referred to as the focal length of the grid. The focus line coincides with the straight path to the focus spot. Thus, if the focal spot coincides with the focal line of the grid, the primary x-ray has minimal interaction with the radiopaque lead strip and maximum primary transmission is obtained. The misalignment of the non-scattering grid with the focal spot of the focal line weakens the primary x-ray transmission while the scattered x-ray transmission remains unchanged. Thus, optimal primary x-ray transmission requires alignment (positional and orientation) of the focal spot with the focal line of the non-scattering grid.

In general radiography, x-ray vision, and mammography, the image receptor and the x-ray tube are rigidly mounted in a fixed position relative to each other, making focal spot and grid alignment a simple process. In mobile radiography, the imaging receptor is placed under the lying patient, and the x-ray source is positioned on the patient. Since the relative separation of the focal spot and the image receptor is variable, determining the proper location and orientation of the scattering grid between the patient and the image receptor is a problem of difficult alignment. If a grid is not used, only a small portion of the possible contrast is obtained in the x-ray image.

When the grid is used with moving radiography, the grid is typically not aligned. The misalignment problem is alleviated by using a grid with a low ratio of 8: 1 or less. Even if the x-ray image contrast is improved using a grid of low ratios, the contrast is much lower than can be achieved with properly aligned high ratio grids, otherwise having a grid ratio of 10: 1 or higher.

Thus, while mobile radiography is more convenient than fixed radiography in many respects, its clinical use is reduced due to inferior image quality caused by scattered radiation. This is a major problem in moving radiography due to the difficulty in creating proper alignment of the focus spot with the non-scattering grid. Means for creating an appropriate alignment that is easy for the operator to use will significantly improve the motion radiographic image contrast and image quality and thus increase the clinical use of the motion radiography.

The mechanism used with the grid for x-ray technology is a problem that may be correlated to a more generalized and used grid in other areas for dynamic and tunable filtering of waves including electromagnetic spectra, fluids, and other components of air, To provide a specific solution to the problem. For example, flexible and dynamic grids may be employed as privacy screens, selectively filtering visible light in a manner that follows a particular object. Here, the grid used in addition to x-ray technology will employ a dynamically adjustable grid line that targets the user and calibrates to the user and tracks the user.

A system and method for determining the position of an x-ray source of an x-ray machine and for adjusting grid lines in an unscattered grid is disclosed. In one embodiment, Using a source locator with an infrared (IR) transmitter and an IR receiver, locate the x-ray source and align the grid lines with the ideal x-ray beam path. By aligning the grid lines and the beam path, an image with increased contrast and reduced noise can be generated.

The present invention provides a system for determining the position of an x-ray source of an x-ray machine, such as a portable x-ray machine. The system includes an x-ray source and a source locator. The x-ray source emits an x-ray beam with an idealized beam path. The source locator is associated with an x-ray source and has means for communicating with its location, such as (but not limited to) an IR transmitter / receiver. The IR transmitter / receiver of the source locator transmits position information defining the position of the x-ray source, together with the position information generated by the source locator. The system includes means for communicating with its location, such as but not limited to an IR transmitter / receiver, and two elements, in this case a source locator, an x-ray grid element similar to the ideal path of the emitted x- Ray grid that also adjusts for position information determined by communication between the x-ray grid and the x-ray grid. The grid lines optionally allow the emitted x-ray beam to align with the idealized path of the emitted x-ray beam through the x-ray grid. The grid line is adjusted to an ideal beam path and, in response to IR radiation received by the IR receiver, selectively causes the emitted x-ray beam to pass through the x-ray grid.

The present invention also provides a system for acquiring an x-ray image in which contrast is increased and noise is reduced. The system includes an x-ray beam source and an adjustable x-ray grid. The x-ray beam source emits an x-ray beam and has an associated source locator that determines the position of the x-ray source. The x-ray grid includes a plurality of grid lines including materials that are radiopaque and radiolucent alternating. The grid lines of the x-ray grid may be adjusted to the x-ray beam source using electromagnetic fields, servo motors or other computer driven mechanisms. The grid lines can be adjusted between a first unshielded position that allows x-ray beam radiation to pass through the grid and a second shielded position that prevents x-ray beam radiation from passing through the grid. The grid lines may comprise material strips or individual radiopaque spheres in which the radiopaque material is disposed within the central plane of each radiopaque sphere. The radiation-transmissive material has a first charge side and a second charge side, wherein the first charge side is opposite to the second charge side.

The present invention also provides an x-ray source, providing an adjustable x-ray grid, wherein the adjustable x-ray grid is adjusted to align with x-ray beam emission of the x- -scatter grid). In one embodiment, the radiopaque spheres comprise a layer of radiopaque material disposed within a central plane of each sphere. The adjustment means selectively aligns the x-ray grid lines such that the x-ray beam radiation passes through the x-ray grid. The adjusting means may further comprise a computer for selectively aligning the x-ray grid line with an ideal path of the x-ray beam radiation and receiving the position information acquired by the source locator to cause the x-ray beam radiation to pass through the x- .

The present invention also provides an apparatus and method for filtering other elements, including fluid and airflow, as well as other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum including visible light. The filter is dynamic in that the grid line of the device is adjusted to the target based on information received from the source and / or the target or receiver.

The present invention provides a dynamic privacy screen with a display device or grid comprising dynamic grid lines therein. The display device has a motion sensor that is not limited to an IR LED emitter. The dynamic grid line may have the ability to transition between impermeable and transmissive states everywhere and may be oriented anywhere to have an angle between 0 and 180 degrees. The grid line is dynamic in that the line is adjusted to an angle that matches the angle of the tracked object with the grid. The tracking object may include a personal user of a screen, such as a computer screen, a smartphone screen, a tablet screen, or a television screen. The tracking object may have a marker sensed by the motion sensor of the display device, or may be tracked using an integrated system already employed in the device, etc., which is not limited to a forward facing video camera. The user will have the ability to calibrate the position of the grid relative to the tracked object and will have a field of view in a manner similar to the x-ray grid example where the beam source itself may have a surrogate of that location encoded in the system will be. The marker detection by the sensor defines location information about the tracked object and / or the display device. The position information is sent to the computer and used to adjust the angular orientation of the grid line to match the angle of the tracked object with the display device. Likewise, a video camera may employ existing software, including, but not limited to, facial recognition software. If the grid line is impermeable and location information is obtained, the computer will adjust the grid line to align with the tracked object. With this arrangement, for example, a tracking object or a computer will be able to recognize a transparent region on a display device. Objects that are not in line with the impermeable grid lines will not recognize the transmissive region on the display device and instead will see only the impermeable region on the display device. For example, the unmarked user next to the tracked object will only see the opaque line, i.e., the opaque display screen.

1 is an illustration of a portable x-ray apparatus according to the present invention.
Figures 2a and 2d are examples of a source locator disposed on an x-ray source of the portable x-ray device according to Figure 1; Figs. 2B and 2C are examples of a manner in which the position of the x-ray source can be calculated.
Fig. 3 is an embodiment of the x-ray plate adopted in Fig.
4 is another embodiment of the x-ray plate adopted in Fig.
5A to 5C are diagrams showing the use of a radiation-transmissive sphere as an embodiment of an x-ray grid.
6 is a diagram showing a grid of an alternative embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a top view of the grid shown in Fig. 6 when the grid is turned on. Fig.
FIG. 8A is a view showing the grid line direction at 0 degree or 180 degrees.
8B is a view showing the grid line direction at about 45 degrees.
8C is a view showing the grid line direction at 90 degrees.
8D is a view showing the grid line direction at about 135 degrees.
9 is a view showing a grid of a second alternative embodiment.
10A is a diagram showing a grid of a third alternative embodiment in which the grid lines are oriented at about zero degrees.
10B is a view showing the grid of FIG. 10A in which the grid lines are oriented at about 135 degrees.
11A is a diagram showing a grid of a fourth alternative embodiment in which the grid lines are oriented in an array.
11B is a view showing two grids of Fig.

FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, in order to obtain diagnostic image information with reduced noise due to scattered x-rays and with increased contrast, to adjust x-ray emission from the x-ray machine and to adjust the grid lines into the scatter- (100) of the invention. The system 100 includes a portable x-ray machine 110 having an x-ray head 115 and an x-ray plate 150 used to detachably receive an x-ray film cassette or digital x-ray detector 155 . In one embodiment, a source locator 120 is attached to the housing of the x-ray head 115 of the x-ray machine 110 and the x-ray plate 150 is attached to the flexible filter, scatter prevention grid 160 do. Both the source locator 120 and the flexible filter and the scatter prevention grid 160 are capable of providing a contrast enhanced and noisy image when compared to an image obtained using a prior art portable x- Lt; / RTI >

Referring now to FIG. 2A, source locator 120 is shown in more detail. The purpose of the source locator 120 is to determine the location of the x-ray source 200 and to record the location information in a suitable digital storage device. And the digital storage device is associated with a circuit fixed to the x-ray head 115 so that the position of the x-ray source in a particular x-ray head is always stored and known correctly if the source locator is removed or the x- .

In Fig. 2A, an x-ray source 200 to be positioned, an x-ray opaque object 201, and an image 202 recorded on the film 203 are shown. As will be described later, the x-ray source position is accurately determined by appropriate computer calculation based on these differences, together with the determination of the size difference between the object 201 and the image 202. [ When the mobile x-ray machine is turned on, x-ray radiation 204 is generated and recorded as an image 202 on the film 203 across the object 201. Since the object 201 is x-ray opaque, the size of the image 202 will vary depending on the relative positions of the x-ray source 200, the object 201, and the image 202.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, the manner in which the position of the x-ray source can be calculated is shown. More specifically, the position coordinates of points A and C are known, and the "Y" dimension (distance 205) is also known and fixed. Similarly, distance 207 is known so that the location of points B and D is known, but distance 206 is variable and not known. Using the known technique, the size difference between the object 201 and the image 202 can be easily determined.

If the position of points D and C is known, it is possible to calculate the relative angle of line 208, and it is possible to calculate the correct angle of line 209 if that angle is known. An extension of lines 208 and 209 may be calculated to determine the precise location of the x-ray source 200. It will be appreciated that the above-described known computations will be accomplished on a computing device (not shown) associated with the source locator 120. Figure 2c shows the use of a star shaped object 201, which is an example of a figure with clearer visual indicators, than the disc 201 shown in Figure 2b, which may be employed to simplify the calculations required. For example.

2D shows an example where the same process as described above can be used to calculate its precise position, although the x-rays are off centered. 2D also illustrates the representation of the digital storage device 210 described above in which location information for x-ray source 200 is stored.

3, source locator 120 is disposed on x-ray machine 110 so as to be integrally or removably attachable to x-ray head 115 of x-ray machine 110. The locator 120 is used to determine the position of the actual x-ray focus 200 of the portable x-ray machine 110 as described above. An infrared (IR) transmitter 130 is disposed on the source locator 120 and an IR receiver 140 is disposed on the x-ray plate 150, for example. The IR transmission signal from the transmitter 130 is received by the IR receiver 140 to transmit the position of the x-ray source 200. It is understood that the location of the x-ray source 200 is stored in the digital device 210, and that the stored information is used by the IR transmitter 130. The use of IR transmitters and IR receivers to transmit the position of a particular object is known as a general concept. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,627,524. This system or similar known techniques may be used in accordance with the present invention.

the source locator 120 may be removed from the x-ray head 115 after the position of the x-ray source 200 is determined and the grid 160 is adjusted as described below. However, the location of the x-ray source 200 is left stored in the digital storage device 210 so that the location of the source 200 can be used for subsequent use of the portable x-ray machine.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an embodiment of x-ray plate 150 is shown. In one embodiment, a flexible filter, a scatter prevention grid 160, is attached to the x-ray plate 150, which is used to removably receive the detector 155. In another embodiment, the grid 160 may be removably attached to the x-ray plate 150. In use, the x-ray plate 150 will be oriented such that the patient lies on top of the grid 160 of the plate 150 on which the detector 155 is disposed. The grid 160 reduces scattering effects by preventing scattered x-rays from reaching the detector 155.

The detector 155 may include an x-ray photosensitive film or a digital x-ray detector. For example, a suitable digital detector may include a cesium iodide phosphor (scintillator) on an amorphous silicon transistor-photodiode array having a pixel pitch of about 100 micrometers. Other suitable detectors may include a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a direct digital detector that converts x-rays directly into digital signals. Although the photosensitive film is flat and is exemplified as defining a flat image plane, other configurations of photosensitive film and digital detector such as a curved photosensitive film or a digital detector having a curved image plane can be suitably employed .

Still referring to FIG. 4, the grid 160 has an adjustable dynamic grid line 162 that is adjusted in response to the position of the x-ray focus as determined by the source locator 112. This creates an idealized beam path of x-ray emission from x-ray source 200. The grid 160 determines the idealized path of the x-ray beam and then uses the previously described IR transmitter and receiver to adjust the line to an idealized path, based on the idealized path, Lt; / RTI > The grid lines 162 comprise a set of radiopaque materials of the individual strips and a set of radiolucent materials of the individual strips, as described above.

In one embodiment, the radiopaque material of the grid line 162 includes parallel lead louvers employing a servo motor to adjust the lead louver based on the calculated idealized path. In this embodiment, the computer system can be used to obtain idealized path information from the source locator, calculate the position of the focus, and then adjust the louver using the servo motor.

5A shows another embodiment of an x-ray plate 150 that includes a grid 260 formed into a grid line that takes the shape of a sphere 262 that floats in a fluid matrix. The grid 260 may be part of a fluid system, or a planar system, in which the spheres 262 are in one plane. The sphere 262 may be suspended in any type of fluid or semi-fluid radiation-transmissive material 270. An array of radiation-impermeable materials 275 is disposed on each sphere 262, and in this embodiment the arrangement is a planar shape. For example, each sphere 262 has a thin layer of lead or similar radiation-impermeable material 275 that cuts through the sphere 262 at the center plane 275. Each sphere 262 will have the same polarity such that each center plane of each sphere 262 is aligned in response to application of the appropriate electromagnetic field. When the idealized x-ray path is determined as described above, the control computer will apply an electromagnetic field to the planar system of the grid 260, and the lead plane 275 of each sphere 262 is then applied to the x- Lt; / RTI > By using an electromagnetic field, the sphere 262 is selectively adjusted to block or allow x-ray beam emission from the x-ray source 200. FIG. 5B illustrates one particular alignment of spheres 262, and FIG. 5C illustrates spheres 262 having one or more planes, in this case two planes, which can increase the performance of the anti-scatter grid .

The aforementioned mechanics of the grid can be utilized in fields other than x-ray technology. Alternative grids may be utilized to control or direct the optical transmissions from, for example, the air stream, the fluid flow, or other wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, e.g., from the transmission object T or to the tracked reception object R. In one embodiment, the grid 360 is used with a transmission destination T, which may be a computer or a screen of a television, and a tracked reception destination R, which may be a computer or an object or user of a television. See FIG.

In one embodiment, the grid 360 is a screen or display device that can utilize LCD or LED technology to define adjustable dynamic grid lines 362. In other embodiments, the grid lines 362 may include chemical articles, IR LEDs, or other techniques. In another embodiment, the chemical grid lines may include photochromatic techniques. Figure 6 illustrates a grid 360 using LCD or LED technology. The grid 360 may be comprised of upper and lower transmissive plates 324 and 325, respectively, and these transmissive plates are stacked together. The transmissive plates 324 and 325 establish a light transmission path through the grid 360. The transmissive plate 325, which is one of the transmissive plates in the exemplary display shown in the figures, includes excisions or troughs as illustrated at 328. Each of the troughs 328 includes a liquid crystal material sump, which may be of any shape or configuration. In one embodiment, this configuration has a set of parallel linear elements or a Crosshatch orientation. The conductive paths (not shown) provide excitation from a circuit (not shown) cooperating with grid 360 to display adjustable dynamic grid lines 362 on grid 360 To each of the liquid crystal puddles within each of the troughs. See FIG.

As is known, excitation of the elements in the liquid crystal display causes the excited element to be relatively impermeable to light transmission. The output shown in Figure 7 displays the adjustable dynamic grid lines 362 as opaque regions in the form of dark lines, and the remaining portions of the grid 360 are transparent. Impermeable regions can be selectively excited or turned on and off. When the elements are excited or turned on, the grid lines 362 are impermeable. When the elements are not excited or turned off, the grid lines 362 are transmissive. Grid lines 362 may achieve angular orientation between 0 and 180 degrees. 8A to 8D.

As the permeable plies 324,325 and troughs 328 may have any dimensions, the excited elements, grid lines 362, when impermeable, can be of any dimensions such as width and height And the like. In this regard, when the grid lines 362 have any dimension, the grid 360 and the adjustable dynamic grid lines 362 may be used as a privacy screen. The grid 360 is arranged in parallel with a transmission object T, such as a computer screen, for filtering optical transmission from an object of transmission T, i.e., a computer screen, and an intended reception object R, Lt; / RTI > In an alternative embodiment, the grid 360 may be integrated with the transmission destination T.

As mentioned above, when the grid lines 362 are turned on, these grid lines are impermeable, but when the elements are turned off, the grid lines 362 become transparent. When the grid 360 is transmissive, the angle of the grid lines 362 is not critical. However, when the grid lines 362 are impermeable, the angle of the grid lines 362 can be adjusted by filtering or directing light from the transmission object T, i.e., a computer screen, and the receiving object R, Lt; / RTI > See FIGS. 8A and 8B. In one embodiment, the grid lines 362 may be adjusted such that the grid 360 is at an angle to the angle of the transmission target T and / or the receiving target R to the grid 360, Can be seen as a Venetian blind in that it can be divided into two. For example, referring to FIGS. 8A-8D, grid lines 362 at 0 degrees (or 180 degrees) do not pass any light. Thus, no light may pass through the grid 360 regardless of whether the destination R is located at any three reference points identified as points A, B, See FIG. 8A. The grid lines 362 rotated at an angle of about 45 degrees can be seen by the reference point C (see FIG. 8B), and the grid lines 362 at an angle of about 90 degrees can be seen by the reference point B 8C), the grid lines 362 at an angle of about 135 degrees can only be seen by reference point A (see FIG. 8D).

In another embodiment, the grid lines may have a mesh orientation. The mesh grid lines may not have a transmissive state and may be impermeable. 6, that is, between the transmission object T and the reception object R, the reception object R is in a dormant state or when the grid lines with mesh are transmitted to the transmission object T, it is possible to view the transmission target T through the grid lines of the mesh. However, when the mesh lines are not perpendicular or oblique to the transmission object T, the reception object R can look at the transmission object T through the grid 369 only when it is in line with the mesh grid lines. If the mesh grid lines are designed to track the reception object R, the mesh grid lines will be in line with the intended reception object R. [ See FIG.

As a further extension of the grid 360, a grid 560 is shown in which each grid line 562 itself can be composed of smaller grid lines 564. See FIG. 10A. Thus, the grid 560 has the ability to allow light to selectively pass through the respective grid lines 562, 564 at different angles. See FIG. 10B. Where ray I passes through grid lines 562 and ray II passes through grid lines 564. Here, two receiving objects R can be targeted to view the grid 360. For example, the two receiving objects R may be the left and right eyes of the user R, and each eye receives either light I or light II. One eye is parallel to the grid lines 562 and the other eye is targeted to be parallel to the grid lines 564 to enable a 3D view of the transmission object T. [

In another embodiment, the grid may be configured in a similar manner as in Fig. 5A. In this case, the spheres will be composed of a translucent material for light and the materials in the sphere will be arranged in multiple arrangements. In one example, the vertical paths dividing the sphere into two planes will have the ability to be impermeable or optionally impermeable (i.e., turned on or turned off).

In another embodiment, the grid 460 may be comprised of adjustable dynamic grid array lines 462 that may take any of a variety of shapes or designs. See FIG. 11A. The array lines 462 are unfolded like a sector or a number of wheels. The array lines 462 may utilize LCDs, LEDs, IR LEDs, chemical or other techniques to allow the elements to be selectively excited to be relatively impermeable to light transmission. Each individual array line 462 may be transmissive or non-transmissive according to the element herein.

The array lines 462 of the grid 460 are arranged at various angles between the transmitting object T, i.e., the computer screen, and the receiving object R, i.e., the computer user. Once again, when all of the array lines 462 are turned on, the grid 460 becomes impermeable and shields the light transmission from the transmission object T, i.e., the computer screen. When all of the array lines 462 are turned off, the grid 460 becomes transparent and allows the receiving object R, i.e., the computer user, to view the light transmissions from the transmitting object T, i.e., the computer screen.

When one or more of the array lines 462 are turned off, portions of the grid 460 become transparent. For example, the array line 465 shown in Fig. 11A is parallel to the line of vision of the reception object R. Fig. Therefore, when the array line 465 is cleared (or turned off), the transmission light can pass from the transmission object T to the reception object R. [ Accordingly, when the reception object R is the user and the transmission object T is the computer screen, only the user R can see the transmission light from the computer screen T. [ If the position of the user R is changed to R 'and the alignment with the off-line array line 465 is out of alignment, the user at the R' position can not see the transmitted light from the computer screen T. The user ' s view of the R ' position is turned on and focused on another, or adjacent, array line 462 that is impermeable. The grid 460 may enable 3D viewing by employing a grid 460 for each eye (see FIG. 11B). Here, each eye is individually targeted to each grid 460. In another embodiment, the grids 460 may be stacked up and down efficiently.

The positioning method and instrumentation used in the grids 360, 460 of the variants can reflect different types of instruments such as video camera motion tracking as well as IR mechanisms employing x-ray grids 160, have. In one embodiment, the user R may communicate with the grid 360, 460 using IR communications. Here, the user R may have a first communication device or IR device such as a transmitting device or a marker, and the grid 360, 460 may have a second communication device or IR device such as a receiving device or a motion sensor . Of course, the first and second IR devices may be reversed so as to be usable for the grids 360 and 460 and the user R, respectively. In the case where the user employs an IR device, such an apparatus may include glass, a contact lens, an earring, an IR device placed on a cap, a bindi, or other device worn by the user R.

In another embodiment, the positioning mechanism may employ video camera facial / object recognition software, which may or may not require the receiving side R to wear a marker, sensor or some type of IR device . In this case, the camera can be positioned on or within the device to be filtered, and computational software embedded in the computing system and the video camera can track any number of targets and adjust the filter for the selected target. A computer (not shown) may be used to coordinate communications between the first and second locations, which represent IR devices or video camera tracked entities. The computer receives the position information, which is information obtained from the motion sensor, after detecting the markers of the first and second positions, specifically the tracked target R to be tracked. Techniques for interaction between the transmission object T and the reception object R are described in [Johnny C. Lee, Hacking the Nintendo Wii Remote, 7 IEEE Pervasive Computing, July-Sept. 39 (2008), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The position information is used to adjust the angular orientation of the grid lines 362, 462 to match the angle of the receiving object R relative to the grid or display device 360, 460 when the grid lines are impermeable . Thus, when the grid lines are impermeable, the receiving object R can recognize the grid lines as impermeable, and the area without the grid lines 362, 462 (the rest of the grids 360, 460) Can be perceived as being transparent. The angle of the trace receiving object R relative to the grids 360 and 460 represents the angle of the dynamic grid lines 362 and 462 in the grid 360 and 460.

Once the positioning operation is completed, the grids 360 and 460 may target the user R and the grids 360 and 460 may be calibrated to the user R to track the user R. Calibration can be done in a variety of ways. For example, the user R may adjust the grid lines 362, 462 of the grids 360, 460 using the left and right arrow key strokes. In another embodiment, when employing the grid 360, 460 with a touch screen, the user R may touch the touch screen to adjust the grid lines 362, 462. Another calibration technique reflects the calibration technique described above with the x-ray source 200. As described above, the position is determined according to the size difference between the image 202 of the object and the impermeable object 201 and the computer operation based on the difference. In another embodiment, the grids 360 and 460 may use two different targets for calibration purposes. The first target is the user R and the second target is manually located between the IR device, the video camera or the grid 360 and 460 and other systems used to communicate location information for the user R It can be an object. The second target may be one that interferes with the television remote controller or the user's hand, and the like. The user R places a remote controller or hand between the user R and the grids 360 and 460 and the grid lines 362 and 462 allow the user R to move through the grid lines 362 and 462 And is adapted to the user R until it can be properly viewed. Similar to the functions in devices such as the Nintendo Wii or Microsoft's Kinect, here it is possible to adjust the targeting by manual operation after an individual away from the grid turns on the personal screen Help. By using the second target between the first target and the transmission target T, an ideal path can be formed in which the grid lines 362 and 462 must be adapted.

In other embodiments, the lines of the grids 360, 460 may be coordinated using electromagnetic fields, servo motors or other computer driven mechanisms, and may be spheres floating in the fluid matrix 262. In this matrix, the filter section has the same ability to change its transparency to a completely impermeable level. Grids 360 and 460 may be further adjusted using a computer that receives position information obtained by grids 360 and 460 to selectively align the grid lines 362 and 462 with respect to an ideal path. And this ideal path allows optical transmission between the reception object R and the transmission object T as necessary.

Tracking occurs by having grids 360 and 460, or specifically, grid lines 362 and 462 are adapted to the movement of the user's field of view. Tracking may be accomplished by using the techniques and IR devices described in the targeting step. The present invention differs from prior art grids. Prior art grids, such as personal screens, simply allow clear views without adjustment. Alternatively, the grids 360 and 460 of the present invention may be used by any receiving object R positioned at an arbitrary angle from the transmission object T. [

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. These modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

In a dynamic privacy screen,
A display device having a motion sensor,
Wherein said grid lines are opaque in a first state and clear in a second state and wherein said grid lines are arranged in said display device and said grid lines are arranged between 0 and < RTI ID = 0.0 > Dynamic grid lines that can achieve an angular orientation of between about < RTI ID = 0.0 > 180 <
A tracked object, wherein the tracked object has a marker, the motion sensor detects the marker of the tracked object, and provides positional information about the tracked object,
The computer receiving the positional information and the positional information being associated with an angle of the tracking object with respect to the display device when the grid lines are in the impervious first state, A method for adjusting the angular orientation of lines
And,
Wherein the angle of the tracked object relative to the display device dictates the angle of the dynamic grid lines within the display device. 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the grid lines are linear strips, and when the grid lines are in the impervious first state, the display device comprises a series of opaque grid lines alternating with a series of transparent areas A dynamic privacy screen that is separate. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the grid lines are crosshatched and the display device is separated into boxes of a series of transparent areas when the grid lines are in the impervious first state. Privacy screen. 2. The dynamic privacy screen of claim 1, wherein the grid lines are array shaped and the display device is impermeable when the grid lines are in the impervious first state. 5. The dynamic privacy screen of claim 4, wherein one array in the array of grid lines is in a second state of transparency and the display device in alignment with one array is transmissive. The dynamic privacy screen of claim 1, wherein the grid lines comprise LCD, LED, chemical and photochromatic techniques. The dynamic privacy screen of claim 1, wherein the marker and the motion sensor are corresponding IR devices. 8. The dynamic privacy screen of claim 7, wherein the marker is an IR LED and the motion sensor is an IR camera. A method for adjusting dynamic grid lines in a grid.
What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising: targeting a tracking object by a grid, the grid having dynamic grid lines and a first communication device, the dynamic grid lines being impermeable in a first state and transmissive in a second state Wherein the grid lines are arranged in the grid and the grid lines are capable of achieving an angular orientation of 0 to 180 degrees and the first communication device acquires positional information about the object to be tracked, Wherein the grid lines are processed by a computer to adjust the angular orientation of the grid lines to match the angle of the tracked object relative to the grid when the grid lines are impervious,
Adjusting the angular orientation of the grid lines to match the angle of the tracked object relative to the grid, the adjustment being based on the positional information;
Tracking the tracking object by the grid lines
/ RTI >
Wherein the grid lines are in a second state of permeability in which the grid is permeable and the portions of the grid are impermeable when the grid lines are in the impervious first state Way. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication device comprises facial recognition software stored in an IR camera, a sensor, and a computer. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the tracking object further comprises a second communication device, the second communication device and the first communication device coordinating dynamic grid lines that interact to generate the location information Way. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second communication device comprises IR transmitters. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting comprises calculating a distance between the tracked object and a calibrating object, wherein the object to be calibrated is located between the tracked object and the grid, / RTI > 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting comprises using a keystroke and a touch screen. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the tracking comprises monitoring the tracking object using an IR camera, a sensor and facial recognition software stored in a computer.

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